Thanks to the efforts of Father Michael J. McGivney, assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven and some of his parishioners, the Connecticut state legislature on March 29, 1882, officially chartered the Knights of Columbus as a fraternal benefit society. The Order is still true to its founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity.

The Knights was formed to render financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works.

The history of the Order shows how the foresight of Father Michael J. McGivney, whose cause for sainthood is being investigated by the Vatican, brought about what has become the world’s foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society. The Order has helped families obtain economic security and stability through its life insurance, annuity and long-term care programs, and has contributed time and energy worldwide to service in communities.

The Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one council to more than 14,000 councils and 1.8 million members throughout the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Cuba, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan.

We are strong

The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal benefit society that is strong, secure and stable. Members can be confident that we’ll be here when you need us. We’ve been successfully protecting families since 1882, and our outlook remains bright.

Don’t just take our word for it. There is no more highly rated insurer in North America than the Knights of Columbus. A.M. Best has bestowed on us their highest rating (A++, Superior) for 35 consecutive years.

Remember, in 2010, the Knights of Columbus gave more than $154 million to Catholic and other charitable causes. In these uncertain times, find comfort in an organization that leads the way in doing good for others while doing good for our own.

We are secure

Since 1882, we have been committed to protecting the financial futures of our Knights and their families. We do this by paying claims and dividends to our insured members. In 2010, we paid well over $442 million in death claims and other benefits, and more than $322 million in dividends to our policyholders. Even more impressive is the fact that in the past decade, the Knights of Columbus paid more than $3.2 billion in dividends to insured members.

We are stable

Prudent leadership and management has led to the rapid growth of our assets, providing an adequate foundation for our member’s protection, and securing our obligations to our insured and their beneficiaries. Also, because we are a fraternal benefit society, we have no stockholders. Our owners are our members and we return our good fortune in the form of dividends to our policyholders.